Key thought #1: GO and MAKE disciples.
We must stop the division of our lives and instead go outside our buildings and programs to create disciples who allow Jesus be part of their whole life. Paul tells us in Galatians: "The life I live I live by faith in the son of God who loves me and gave his life for me." 2:20
Are assigned lifestyle is to live one unified life. We must focus are efforts and not compartmentalize areas of life such as work, family, recreation, entertainment and social media. Instead work to have one cohesive Christlike lifestyle expression.
All authority was given to Jesus and He has appointed us to make disciples. This appointment is based on us recognizing a single life under the Lordship of the only true God found in the person of Jesus.
Key Thought #2: Everyone Disciple of Jesus should be equipping others.
The skills needed can be learned.
"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Phil. 2:1-5 is all about partnership and journeying together plus the attitude we should have while together.
Many of stall out in our discipleship process due to a false view of the need to be profoundly mature. Instead we need to be readily available to the Holy Spirit's work and mutually learning as we come alongside someone else or a small group of followers of Jesus wanting to mature and be like Jesus.
What I am offering.
What I am offering is process I have used which can happen at Starbucks, in park pavilions, on back porches, in kitchens and apartments or wherever you find yourself. This is a process of intentional investment in God's kingdom development but spending time together studying, processing and applying scripture to everyday life. There is no excuse for not doing discipleship that will make any sense when we stand before God after death.
Oh by the way, this is NOT the paid staffs job, it's the church's job and the church is made up of individual followers of Jesus. We each are to be doing this!!!
Where you meet is a partnership choice.
Where you meet can be wherever you feel you are free to share. Public places allow others to listen in and if you are being transparent this can have a limiting effect. The other side of this reality is that some in your public setting might listen into your discussion and find it sparks an interest in the things of God. This is true as we all know church attendance is down significantly but spiritual interest is high so this could offer an opportunities.
I've done both in private office spaces and bagel places. It is all about the partnership and what works best for the learning and sharing needs of the partnership.
I recommend your discipleship process be women with women and men with men so to eliminate unnecessary relational intimacy issues. With same gender attraction always a possibility this pattern like all discipleship relationships it still calls for maintaining clear physical boundaries.
We live in a sexually charged culture so in this discipleship relationship keep your attention firmly focused on following Jesus and developing disciples who can develop disciples who can develop disciples, etc....
Next Steps...
Who will be your first journey partner?